Category: nail polish

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Autumn Gloom Floral

Hello lovelies & happy Monday.

Autumn is in full swing, & I’m loving every moment. There is nothing better than the ‘Ber months. Flannel days, hot cider, all things pumpkin spice — I couldn’t ask for more.

Naturally I’ve been drawn towards darker colour on my nails, as you’ve probably all noticed. I decided, though, there wasn’t enough floral happening so I decided to hand paint some pretty floral on my nails, but still keep with the deep dark jewel tones which have been calling to me.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Base Coat 
  • Top Coat: Sinful Colors Power Paint Top Coat + Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat
  • Color Club Jewel of A Girl
  • & then a whole bunch of Color Club shades that don’t have names listed (purchased in multipacks at Winners/Marshalls)
  • NailStuff 7mm Mermaid Tail Liner Brush

I’m pretty proud of how these turned out. The colours really compliment the shimmery jewel tone of Jewel of A Girl, & pop very nicely. I did use a ton of shades for this look, but literally none (except my base) had a name on it. I actually have a lot of Color Club shades I don’t use very often because they’re nameless.

Maybe someday I’ll do some investigation to figure out what they’re names are, but today is not that day.

What do you think of this gloomy Autumn floral? Do you like this vibe?

We’re only a couple days away from October, so I’m already starting to plan what I’m going to do for the month — pumpkins, & ghosts & spooky vibes are definitely on the list!

Happy Monday loves. Enjoy it.

♥︎

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SWATCH SUNDAY — BlackHeart Metallic Purple Blue Galaxy (Hot Topic Brand)

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far — can you believe this is the last Sunday of September? Where has this month gone? It’s passed by very quickly.

Today I’m excited because I’m sharing a shade I’ve had in my stash all Summer, but have been waiting to share because it felt more Autumn-esque. At the beginning of Summer I was browsing my local Hot Topic, & as always, I have to look at the nail polish! They had some fun colours in those skull shaped bottles, & I ended up buying two since they were buy one get one 1/2 price!

This is Blackheart Metallic Purple Blue Galaxy.

2 coats over NailStuff Essentials Raven + Top Coat

So first thing I noticed when I checked the formula was that it is very, very thin, & therefore very sheer. As a result, I made the choice to apply over a base of black just to avoid needing 4+ coats. Personally, I like the plain black base as it made the purple & blue shimmer the easiest to see.

The colour itself (to me) is the textbook definition of a blurple, which we all know is one of my favourite kind of polishes. The duo-chrome effect flashes either purple or blue depending on how you shift the nail. The colour feels very Halloween-adjacent, which — as a girl who loves Halloween — I’m absolutely here for. & obviously the skull shape of the bottle also adds to the Halloween-y vibes.

Check out that shifty glitter. It’s beautiful. The base of this shade is more of a jelly, so for me I really liked to have the black base so I don’t have to do quite so many coats.

Absolutely gorgeous, & I total win!

Hot Topic’s Blackheart Nail Polish retails for $6.50 CAD but often has a deal like BOGO 50% off which brings the price down. The formula’s & colours are my favourite though because they’re fun finishes, which I’m all about. & obviously, the Skull shaped bottle makes me happy.

Have you ever tried Hot Topic’s nail polish? What do you think of the brand? I’ll definitely be checking back into my local store, as I saw a pink & black glitter online, & I need it. So stay tuned!

& happy Sunday!

♥︎

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SWATCH SUNDAY — China Glaze First Class Ticket (Fall 2010 Vintage Vixen Collection)

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! The weather is absolutely perfect Autumn vibes right now — I wore tights yesterday with my favourite denim skirt. I felt so Fall.

Obviously, I’ve been perusing my stash for past Fall shades I haven’t shared yet with everyone, & stumbled across this beauty in my China Glaze drawer. Yes, I have a whole drawer full of China Glaze nail polishes… a drawer & a half if we’re being technical. But I was excited to stumble across this beauty, & I realized that I haven’t shared it yet!

This is China Glaze First Class Ticket.

2 coats + top coat

This beautiful deep metallic purple is filled with a stunning blue micro glitter which gives it the most stunning blurple effect. We all know I love a deep purple, & a jewel tone, & these are so perfect for this time of year. Formula was smooth & easy to apply — Obviously I still needed two coats for full opacity, but I had no problem with streakiness, or brushstrokes.

Close up really shows how that blue micro glitter gives a glow to the polish. I used flash for my photographs, but even without you can see that blurple effect.

I feel like this shade is very 2010s China Glaze — when to me, their polishes were at the peak. Obviously I still love the brand, but nothing compares to my shades from the early to mid 2010s. That was when China Glaze was the IT GIRL nail polish brand, & I truly adore all of my shades that I collected during those years. It was a beautiful time.

What do you think about China Glaze First Class Ticket? Do you love this shade as much as I do?

Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below! & have the best Sunday lovelies.

♥︎

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Essie High Voltage Vinyl (Essie Fall 2021 Collection)

Good morning lovelies & happy Sunday. I hope everyone is having a beautiful weekend! The weather here is perfect Autumn weather — cool enough to wear a light jacket, but not too cold I can’t still wear my favourite skirts. Definitely my favourite time of year.

So naturally, let’s show off some Fall nail polish. & I feel like I’ve found the perfect shade for the occasion: Essie High Voltage Vinyl.

2 coats + top coat

Described on the Essie site as a “warm rockin’ onyx green nail polish amped up with refined gold pearl” I feel like this colour screams early Autumn. The green is a beautiful dark green which is complimented perfectly by the bronze-y gold. The dark shimmer is really pretty, & applied surprisingly smooth with subtle brush strokes (it kind of just looks more like the finish, & less like me mucking up.)

Green isn’t usually a colour I reach for to wear on its own, but I like that this one is a little bit different & that underlying gold shimmer is doing something to me! It just screams Autumn, & sweater weather. Could you imagine this guy with a coat of Essie Shine of the Times over top? I bet it would be absolutely stunning (& I wish I had thought of it when I put this shade on… rather than when I was writing this blog post! Next time!)

Sadly, looking online it doesn’t look like this shade is available for purchase, which makes me sad because it’s such a fun shade for this time of year. I’m sure there is a beautiful dupe out there though!

What do you think of Essie High Voltage Vinyl? Do you think it’s a beautiful Autumnal shade? Would you wear this unique green nail polish?

I’d love to know your thoughts & what you’re currently wearing on your nails right now.

Happy Sunday!

♥︎

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Recreating my Wedding Nails (on my shorties) 11 years later! ✨👰🏻‍♀️💅💍

Hello lovelies & Happy Saturday! I know I don’t often post on Saturday, but today was a special exception with a special nail design!

I really wanted to recreate my wedding nails in honour of my wedding anniversary, especially as I’m rocking some serious shorties right now. So in honour of the occasion, here’s a brand new version of a very special design.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Hard To Resist Strengthner
  • Top Coat: Sinful Colors Power Paint Top Coat + Essie Speed Setter
  • Essie You Do Blue!
  • OPI I Cannoli Wear OPI
  • China Glaze Champagne Bubbles
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Good As Gold
  • Essie Brides No Grooms
  • Essie She’s Pampered
  • Essie Into the A-Bliss
  • Essie Willow in the Wind
  • Essie Sew Psyched
  • Essie Off Tropic
  • NailStuff dotting tool
  • NailStuff 7mm Liner Brush

For those curious, here are my original nails I painted for my wedding day, & my recreation I did in 2018.

I was absolutely obsessed with my original nails that I painted back in 2015 for my wedding day — it was really important to me to create a beautiful design I would love for years, & years to come. & again, when I recreated them I equally loved the design!

But you know what? I think I love them the most on short nails! Long nails look beautiful no matter what, but trying to recreate the exact same look on nails 1/2 the size really makes them pop! The only thing from my recreation I’m not 100% sold on is the much more yellow gold, but it definitely gives it a more colourful vibe. (& the right amount of sparkle! ✨)

What do you think about this anniversary look? Do you love a floral look as much as I do? I’d love to know if this design holds up all these years later. I certainly adore them as much as I did all those years ago & wouldn’t change a thing about the nails I had on my wedding day.

Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

🖤